For things to change, we have to change, for things to get better, we have to get better... So how do we change, how do we get better as a community, as a state?

If there was an event that would take place in Michigan that could exponentially catapult and transform Michigan culturally into one of the hottest places to do business.

An event to showcase our visionaries, talent, innovators, educators, leading companies ... university students, artists and more in such a way that virtually everyone with a commitment to this region gets onboard and benefits accordingly...

An event big enough where our most prized export (talent) wish to come back to Michigan and get involved?

An event big enough that the smartest companies, technologies, entrepreneurs, innovators, artists, scientists, (venture capital) firms, angels, and international media come to our state on an annual basis?

An event that would have the hundred's of thousands of former Michiganians who have now moved on to Texas, Florida, California, etc. to come back and revisit the area, friends, lakes, etc...

The North American Tech Festival: Sites Sounds & Visionaries is the event that could transform us into being a hotbed of new technologies, entrepreneurs, and train all of the 10,000s of laid-off workers for the 21st Century. You are welcome to join us...

Milan

BIA education is key

I agree with Richard Komer's statements ("BIA leader joins industry in riding out downturn," Dec. 27-Jan. 3). In order to survive in the residential construction industry today, you need the latest tools and information to create a business plan and leadership and capable management to carry out the plan.

One of the least expensive and most valuable sources of the latest tools and information comes in the form of seminars and meetings organized by and for the benefit of the membership of the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan. Having been a participant of many such events, I can attest to the wealth of information available to the BIA members.

Victor J. Leon

Budget surplus mysterious

The State of Michigan is projecting a budget surplus this budget year and state leadership is trying to figure out what to do with the extra funds. This is unbelievable! We were told by the administration just a few short months ago that the state had a serious budget deficit and that the only way out of it was to raise taxes.

So, Ms. Granholm and her administration force-fed us a service tax increase that was later repealed and converted to a Business Tax Surcharge. These people lie to us every chance they get. Why can't they get it through their heads that taxing and penalizing business is no way to foster economic growth in this state? Instead, they prefer to find ways to give more money to social programs to "help our suffering people." I cannot believe that we put these idiots in office!

What are we going to do with this mysterious "budget surplus?" Take it out of the increased business tax surcharge and encourage more business development and job creation in Michigan.